Arizona Wine Growers Festival at The Farm

If you lo-ove wine (that’s right–double syllable “love”), here are the details on a must-attend weekend event: The Arizona Wine Growers Festival at The Farm. On Sunday, hundreds of boutique Arizona wines will be poured during an afternoon filled with unlimited wine tasting, interactive educational seminars, a People’s Choice Awards and a charming picnic lunch by The Farm Kitchen. The Arizona Wine Growers Festival at The Farm offers guests a chance to shake hands and drink the juice of the state’s top wine grape farmers and wine producers in the picturesque setting of Phoenix’s historic Farm at South Mountain pecan grove.
General Admission Event Schedule (1 to 5 p.m.)
$65 ticket includes:
1 to 5 p.m.| Grand Wine Tasting
Presented by AWGA & The Farm at South Mountain, stemware provided by Schott Zwiesel
· 20 Arizona wineries offer hundreds of wines for tasting, meet winemakers from across the state, sip and discover the varietals grown in Arizona
· Sample food from local businesses including Chef Tracy Dempsey, Crave Ice Cream and more
1 to 4:30 p.m. | Picnic Lunch In The Grove
Presented by The Farm Kitchen and Santa Barbara Catering Company
· Included with general admission ticket, choose from three local and seasonal sandwiches or a salad plus a side of sweet potato salad and a pecan shortbread cookie
1 to 3 p.m.| People’s Choice Awards
· Vote your favorite Arizona wine. Choose from the finest red and white wines in the state, learn how to taste wine critically and responsibly from AJ’s Fine Foods’ cellar masters, find out who wins at 4:00pm
1:30 to 2 p.m. | Stemware Seminar by Schott Zwiesel (limited to first 200 guests)
· Learn the basics on wine tasting list a pro, find out what is important when choosing a wine glass, discover what stemware goes with which wine
2:30 to 3:30 p.m. | Arizona “State of Wine” Seminar (limited to first 200 guests)
· Listen as the top winegrowers and producers in Arizona discuss what is happening across the three main growing regions in the state, sample wines from these unique regions as the winemakers share their thoughts, expert panel includes Kent Callaghan, Eric Glomski and Dick Erath, discussion moderated by Richard Ruelas of the Arizona Republic
3:45 to 4 p.m.| The 2009 AWGA Awards Announcements
· Find out who won the top honors at this year’s Professional Wine Competition, find out who won the People’s Choice Award, the AWGA “Rootstock” award recipient will be announced honoring an individual who has help lead the way for the state’s wine industry
4 to 5 p.m. | Live Auction
· Bid on some amazing wine, dine and travel packages put together to help support the Arizona Wine Growers Association
5 p.m. | Conclusion of the General Admission Events
“Growers Cup Awards” Dinner (5 to 9 p.m.):
Award dinner ticket holders ($125 per person) will be treated to celebratory reception and multi-course wine dinner at Quiessence Restaurant at the Farm. Dinner will feature Quiessence’s award-winning seasonal cuisine paired with the winning wines from the professional tasting of the festival.
Notable wine authorities scheduled to appear as judges include:
Laura Williamson- Master Sommelier, Certified Wine Educator and Restaurateur
Ken Cheuvront- Arizona State Senator and owner of Cheuvront Restaurant and Wine Bar, Phoenix
Brent Karlicek- Postino Wine Merchant, Phoenix
Joe LaVilla- Academic Director of the Art Institute of Phoenix, Sommelier, Chef and Author
Doug Levy- The Feast Restaurant, Tucson
Jim Seder- Arizona Wine Inquirer
Jock Wulffson- Backstreet Wine Salon, Phoenix
The growing list of participating wineries includes:
Sonoita Vineyards
Javelina Leap
Kokopelli
Juniperwood Ranch
Pillsbury
Canelo Hills
Keeling Schaefer
Dos Cabezas
Skull Valley Wines
Caduceus
Page Springs Cellars
Rancho Rossa
Kief Joshua Vineyards
Lightning Ridge Cellars
Alcantara
Coronado Vineyards
Su Vino Winery
Callaghan Vineyard
Sonoita Vineyards
Javelina Leap
Rancho Rossa
Jerome Winery
Tickets, general information, sponsorship details and media info online at: http://www.azwinefestivalatthefarm.com/.